In your article about the case of Gina Mallard (Last orders, October 20) you refer to a report by the Prison Reform Trust on the lack of alcohol programmes for those in custody. Alcohol abuse has been forgotten about, despite the fact that nearly two-thirds of male sentenced prisoners and four-fifths of female sentenced prisoners admit to hazardous drinking, and of these about half have a severe alcohol dependency.

The Prison Service is about to publish its long-awaited and long overdue alcohol harm-reduction strategy. But this will only be a best-practice guide and is not expected to be supported by extra funding. So prisons will not have the resources to provide proper assessments followed up by the full range of treatment programmes that are needed for the thousands of prisoners with drink problems. What hope is there of breaking the cycle of alcohol and reoffending? Enver Solomon Senior policy officer, Prison Reform Trust

Carers' sacrifices

I was truly sad to read of Phil Frampton's experiences in a Barnardo's children's home and in foster families (Growing pains, October 20). But, as a daughter of parents who have fostered a number of children since I was 13 (I'm now 21), I was also sad that he branded my parents' love and hard work as "psychological abuse".

My parents stumbled into foster caring almost accidentally. A friend of my brother's at school had been kicked out of his home when his mother's boyfriend delivered an ultimatum. This boy and his brother came to live in our home and stayed for the next five years, leaving only when they felt they wanted to. While they were with us - and since - my parents have welcomed many children into our home. Never once have any of them been told to leave or shoved to another home.

It breaks my heart to read that Frampton does not recognise the joy, heartache and sacrifices that carers like my parents go through. I thank my parents for never making us feel that their love for us has lessened, even as more need it.

I invite him to visit my home to see that, despite the abuse that can be suffered by children looked after by local authorities, it isn't always this way and there are people, like my parents, who do it for the children. Name and address withheld

Long-term gains

Your article states that the "Gershon report says new IT will make the quick savings it requires" (Cheap as chips, October 20). Yet the Gershon report was about a lot more than IT. Much of the saving comes from procurement. Indeed, departmental plans indicate that of the £21.5bn efficiency savings predicted for 2007-08, more than £7bn will come from procurement - and we are starting now. Our procurement strategy recognises long-term relationships and market structures, not just short-term gains.

I disagree that the picture on administration costs has become "darker". Only last week, it was shown that there has been a 10% drop in government demand for office accommodation in the capital. So we are starting to drive these costs down now. John Oughton Chief executive, Office of Government Commerce

Need for growth

Unfortunately, Peter Hetherington is mistaken, as the "unplanned monstrosity on [his] doorstep" was no doubt pored over by planning officers and approved by a planning committee or possibly a qualified planning inspector (Opinion, October 20).

Britain has a planning system that appears to combine the worst of all worlds: slow, expensive and satisfying no one. But help is at hand; the new planning system will, says John Prescott, provide a system that is sustainable, speedy and engages the community.

However, the omens are not good. Judging from the volume of advice and regulation coming out of the office of the deputy prime minister, the new system will be more complex and less likely to engage the public. On the regional issue, the public debate has focused on housing numbers in the south-east, yet it is employment growth in London and southern England that is fuelling the demand for housing. With 100 new jobs created in London and south-east England for every job created in the north-east, small wonder that southern England is booming.

There is an overwhelming need for a regional policy that places the emphasis on economic growth rather than housing numbers; a policy that will help rebuild regional economies and create growth in our regions. Tony Robinson Northallerton

Airing taboos

Helen McNutt's report truly reflects the state of affairs regarding issues around relationships and sexuality with people with learning disabilities in this country (Hidden pleasures, October 13).

More articles like this are so urgently needed in the mainstream media to highlight and educate the public about how we have a long way to go yet in acknowledging the needs and segregation within society of individuals with a learning disability. Sexuality is considered so taboo in many social care settings that often it is brushed under the carpet. The article brings these problems right to the forefront of public view. We need more of this educating material. Maggi Fenwick Dundee